Canberra-based Capital Brewing Co. has announced it has become carbon neutral certified by federal government scheme, Climate Active.
The business said it is the first brewery to reach this status across the entirety of its operations and products, and is hoping it can be an inspiration to others in the industry. With this in mind, Capital Brewing Co. has partnered with Pangolin Associates and Climate Active to develop a carbon neutral template.
Pagolin Associates is a specialist energy management firm that conducted a thorough ‘life cycle assessment’ of Capital Brewing Co.’s entire operations, including: “direct, indirect, upstream, and downstream activities from raw materials such as aluminium, grain and hops, to energy and water use, waste, freight, staff commuting, and even every piece of paper used in its offices.”
For Capital Brewing Co.’s Founders, Tom Hertel and Laurence Kain, the certification marked the culmination of a long-held commitment to producing ‘good natured brews’.
“With sustainability being at the core of every decision we make, we’re incredibly proud to be recognised by Climate Active as the first brewery in Australia to be certified carbon neutral for our entire operations, all our products, and all direct and indirect emissions we’ve created,” Hertel commented.
Kain concurred, saying: “We all have a responsibility to look after our surroundings, and it is widely accepted that our society needs to work quickly to avoid irreversible, catastrophic changes to our environment.
“We are choosing to provide our customers the option to continue to enjoy an ice-cold beer in the knowledge that it’s not warming the planet and in doing so, aim to inspire change throughout the brewing industry.”
After Pagolin’s assessment was audited and verified by a third party, Capital Brewing Co. purchased carbon credits from the Orana Natural Capital Project as a means of offsetting its carbon emissions.
Commenting on the template that the brewery is producing, Hertel said: “With the easy-to-use framework and urgent need to act, we’re calling on our fellow brewers to get on board and, together as an industry, let’s lead the way for real action on climate change.”
Capital Brewing Co. has a number of environmental initiatives and ecological harm reduction strategies in place. These include using 100 per cent renewable energy at the brewery, sending spent grain and other brewing materials to an organic farm, and using a water-cooled refrigeration plant with ‘low global warming potential’.
Going forwards, the brewery will look to improve environmental performance by implementing a ‘clean-in-place’ system, which will recycle water and chemicals used to clean brewing equipment, and by transitioning to an electric vehicle fleet.
Dan Sheedy, the Director of Strategy and Engagement at Climate Active, commended the efforts of Capital Brewing Co.
“The Capital Brewing Co. team have shown immense dedication to embodying a truly sustainable operation and we’re proud to have them onboard as the first brewery in the country to become carbon neutral certified for their entire operations and all of their products,” Sheedy said.
“The Capital Brewing Co. Climate Active certification and development of the blueprint is a testament to their commitment to making real change within the brewing industry and protecting the environment for future generations.”